PKD Life - Spring 2022 - 4

FORK: BRAIS SEARA/GETTY IMAGES. MAN: ALEKS333/
SHUTTERSTOCK,. YOGA: TOM FRICKER DESIGN/SHUTTERSTOCK.
FRESH START
A plantbas
ed diet
may tas 
be tt er.
Coping With Loss of Appetite
Appetite loss is common in PKD,
particularly in the later stages
of the disease. Reasons for this
include enlarged kidneys (and
sometimes the liver), which
can take up more space in the
abdomen and make you feel full
quicker, as well as imbalances
in appetite regulators, such as
gastrointestinal hormones. In
addition, in advanced stages of the
disease, poor appetite might be
caused by uremia, an increase in
the blood levels of urea and other
nitrogenous waste compounds
removed by the kidneys.
Kristen Nonahal, R.D.N., a renal
nutrition specialist at the Henry
Ford Medical Group in Detroit,
off ers these tips for improving your
appetite so you get the proper
nutrition and avoid losing weight:
1 If you feel full too soon
while eating, try eating
smaller, more frequent meals.
You can also try limiting fl uids
at mealtimes or even waiting
30 minutes aſt er a meal before
having a drink (while making
sure you're meeting your fl uid
intake needs).
2 Consider switching to
a plant-based diet to meet
your protein requirements.
(Beans, lentils, and chickpeas
are all good plant sources of
protein.) Eating red meat, in
particular, may cause a metallic
or ammonialike taste in the
mouth, possibly because of
the greater amount of nitrogenous
waste produced from
these foods that builds up in
the blood. " Many people feel
better switching to a plantbased
protein diet, " Nonahal
THE MANY SHADES OF PEE
Awarene 
The color of your urine can tell you a lot about what's going on inside your body. The chart below, created with the help of Osama
Amro, M.D., director of the Swedish Polycystic Kidney Disease Center in Seattle, will help you understand why it's worth taking a
look in the toilet before you fl ush. If you notice any unexpected changes in the color of your urine, always let your doctor know.
1
CLEAR
Excellent
hydration
2
RED
Could signal
internal bleeding
or a cyst
rupture (usually
accompanied
by pain),
but it could
also mean you
recently ate
beets, raspberries,
or another
red food
3
ORANGE/
DEEP
YELLOW
Jaundice
(though there
will be other
signs in the
body, such as
yellow eyes)
4
BLUE/GREEN
Food additives-a
good
PKD diet avoids
preservatives
or things that
can stain the
urine; could
also signal
infection, but
that would usually
be accompanied
by pain
5
DARK
YELLOW/
GREEN
Dehydration;
drink water
and eat fruits
and vegetables
throughout
the day to stay
hydrated
6
BROWN
Muscle breakdown,
usually
from extreme
exercise
7
MILKY
WHITE/
CLOUDY
Infection or
too much
protein-
avoid highprotein
diets,
since they
can lead to
infl ammation
says. " A vegetarian diet
isn't for everyone, but even
one or two days per week
can help improve taste
and appetite. "
3 Be careful with meal
replacement products,
as many of them are high
in potassium and protein.
Nonahal suggests limiting
potassium to less than 300 milligrams
per 8-ounce serving and
less than 15 grams of protein.
There are also several renalfriendly
supplements on the
market, and various websites
for kidney patients off er recipes
for low-potassium, low-protein
shakes you can make at home.
4 If your low appetite
persists and you are losing
weight, seek out a trained renal
dietitian who has experience
with PKD.
4 PKD LIFE * SPRING 2022

PKD Life - Spring 2022

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